Picture-frame.



PATENTED JUNE 2,1903.

J. w. MYERS.

PICTURE FRAME.

APPLICATION I'IL ED JULY I4. 1902.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

JOHN w. MYERS, or vINcEnN s, INDIANA.

PlCTURE-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,784, dated June 2,1903.

Application filed July 14. 1902. Serial No. 115,565. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN \V. MYERS, a citizenof theUnitedStates,residingatVincennes, in the county of Knox, State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture-Frames; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to articles formed of. blocks which areconstructed to interlock when assembled to hold them rigidly in theirproper positions, the object of the invention being to provide astructure which may be embodied in picture-frames or other article ofuse or ornament and in which the parts may be easily assembled, butcannot be disassembled.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide as an element of thestructure when used in a picture-frame-a hook for holding the picture,the glass, and the back in the frame, so that the latter will be lockedsecurely in place.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is an elevation showing a picture-frame embodying the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one end of the rear sideof the picture-frame. Fig. 3 is a section through one end of the frameand including the hook. Fig. a is a perspective view showing two of thelong bars prior to engagement of short bars therewith. Fig. 5 is asection similar to Fig. 3 and showing other. of the short bars.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown the present inventionembodied in a picture-frame, this illustrating but .one use to which theinvention may be put. The frame consists of two sides 5 and 6 and thetwo ends 7 and 8, each of whichis constructed in the same way as theothers, excepting that the sides may be longer than the ends, althoughit will be understood that the proportions of the sides and ends may bewhatever is desired. Each of these sides and ends consists of two bars 9and 10, each of which isnotched at intervals, as shown at 11, thenotches of one bar lying opposite to the other bar, so that the notchesare in pairs, and the bars are arportions shown in Fig. 1.

to the long bars are employed short bars, a

pair 17 of which is passed between the long barsand in engagement withthe notches 11 of the latter: The mutually adjacent faces of the shortbars 17 have notches 19 in them, with which are engaged bars 20, havingnotches in their inner faces which receive the bars 9 and 10. Thus itwill be seen that each pair of bars interlocks with the remaining bars.At the ends of the bars 9 and 10 that is, at the corners of theframe--the bars 9 and 10 of the ends of the frame take the places of thebars 17 of the sides of the frame, so that the ends and the sides areheld securely together. At certain points of the sides and ends theinner short bar 17 of each pair has a hook 21 at one end, the bill ofwhich projects toward the center of the frame, and when the frame isassembled the glass, the picture, and the backing are put in place,after which the bars having the hook are put in place, and these hooksby overlapping the backing hold the backing, the glass, and the picturesecurely in place.

In assembling the parts of the structure the short bars 17 are disposedbetween the bars 9 and 10 and in the recesses 11 thereof, after whichthe ends of the bars 17 at one side of the long bars 9 andlO are movedapart and between them ispressed theshort bars 20 at that side of thelong bars. The short bars 20 at the opposite side of the longbars arethen turned sidewise and passed between the opposite end portions of thebar 17 until they reach the recesses of the bars 17, after which theyare rotated a quarter of a turn to the To engage this second series ofshort bars 20, they. must be passed in sidewis'e and then rotated asdescribed, and after they have been rotated into the recesses of thebars17 saidbars prevent return rotation, and the said bars 20 cannot beremoved. It is found in practice that while the bars 17 may be sprungapart sufliciently to thus lock the structure it cannot be subsequentlyunlocked without breakage.

It will be understood that in practice any suitable materials andproportions may be used for the parts of this structure and that thestructure itself may be employed for whatever purpose it is adapted.

When making a splice in the wood of any of the members 9 and 10, theends of the sections of such member are cut, so that they will abut andlie flush, and the line of division between the two sections is midwaybetween the side faces of two of the short pieces, so that the portionsof the abutting ends of these sections lie in the sockets of the shortpieces and the sections are held against dis placement.

What is claimed is 1. An article of the class described comprising twoparallel pairs of long bars having notches in their adjacent faces, thesecond pairs of long bars being engaged between and in the endmostnotches of the bars of the first pairs, pairs of short bars engagedbetween and in the remaining notches of the first pairs of long bars andin the notches of the second pairs of long bars, said short bars havingnotches in their adjacent faces, additional short bars engaged betweenthe pairs of first-named short bars and in the notches thereof andhaving notches in which the corresponding long bars are received, andother short bars engaged between and in the notches of the second pairsof long bars and having notches in their adjacent faces in which saidother pairs of long bars are received.

2. An article of the class described comprising two parallel pairs oflong bars having notches in their adjacent faces, the second pairs oflong bars being engaged between and in the endmost notches of the barsof the first pairs, pairs of short bars engaged between and in theremaining notches of the first pairs of long bars and in the notches ofthe second pairs of long bars, said short bars having notches in theiradjacent faces, additional short bars engaged between the pairs offirst-named short bars and in the notches thereof and having notches inwhich the corresponding long bars are received, and other short barsengaged between and in the notches of the second pairs of long bars andhaving notches in their adjacent faces in which said other pairs of longbars are received, certain of the short bars having hooks at their endsto receive a picture between the bills of the hooks and the bars thatlie at right angles to the hook-bars.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. MYERS.

\Vitnesses:

WVILLIAM H. HILL, ROBERT L. BUoKLEs.

